The Brooke - Research

To make sure our resources are put to best use - helping the working animals most in need whilst applying the best available solutions – the Brooke is working with the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Science.

Step 1 – Where are the most animals suffering and from what?

To answer these questions welfare assessments are carried out. Hundreds, even thousands, of animals in an area are surveyed.

Carefully checking and recording measures of behaviour, health, wounds, and the gait and limb problems of every animal builds a clear picture of the common problems in the area.

During a welfare assessment, we look at all aspects of an animal's health to establish the main welfare concerns

Steps 2 & 3 - What are the priority problems and what is causing the suffering?

After identifying the most common and severe animal welfare problems, we can identify what is causing them and which to prioritise by carrying out risk assessments. We measure animals, follow their working day and carefully watch and interview their owners to find out what they are getting up to every day.

A wound is measured during a risk assessment on lip lesions in Pakistan

Complex investigation of the observations made helps us to identify the main ‘risk’ factors. This statistical analysis often shows causes that are:

unexpected - we can never make assumptions
multiple - there is rarely one single contibuting factor

Our assessments help us understand, scientifically, what makes specific welfare problems worse, what makes them better and what will prevent them happening in future.

Step 4 & 5 – Planning and Intervention - What is our solution to stop the animal suffering?

Once we have identified the main problems in an area and their causes, we plan carefully what our solution will be. Human behaviour is the biggest single factor affecting animals and that is why our training and community programmes are so vital.

Step 6 – Evaluation – has the suffering eased?

After having put a solution in place we carry out another survey of the animals to make sure that the changes we have helped to put in place in a community have ‘solved’ the problem.

Conclusion – or is it?

This unique scientific Brooke approach is complex and often it will take years to be really sure of the benefits. Most importantly though, we are working to ensure that the long-term future for millions of working horses, donkeys and mules is:

healthier
happier
sustainable